Former France international and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has defended his comments at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony following criticism over jokes he made about Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and co-host Kate Scott.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Henry, who presented the ceremony alongside CBS Sports presenter Scott, addressed the controversy in a video shared on social media on October 28, insisting that his remarks had been taken out of context.

The 49-year-old faced backlash after joking about Yamal winning the Young Player of the Year award for the third consecutive time.

During the ceremony, Henry asked the Barcelona youngster, “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” The comment reportedly prompted reactions from the audience.

However, the former Arsenal captain maintained that he had no intention of disrespecting Yamal, whom he described as one of his favourite players.

“I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego at all. That you didn’t like the joke, I can understand,” Henry said.

“But don’t do that; he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch. I love him.”

Henry also dismissed claims that he had disrespected Scott after correcting her pronunciation of the name of Brazilian football legend Socrates during the event.

“You didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate,” he said.

“I will never do that, and you can ask her; she was in on the joke with me. She did Soc on purpose, and I said Soc, so please stop inventing stories.”

The former France striker also explained his decision to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe in the race for the main award, which was won by England captain Harry Kane.

Henry described Kane as a deserving winner, praising his dedication, hard work and commitment to the game.

“I’m French, and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman,” he said.

He added that he had congratulated Kane and told him he deserved the honour, describing the England captain as an example of how hard work and discipline could be considered talents in their own right.

“Well done, Harry Kane, and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup,” Henry added.

Urging critics to move on from the controversy, Henry reiterated his admiration for both Kane and Yamal while maintaining that he had not disrespected Scott.

“So please, people out there, relax, relax. I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal, and I didn’t disrespect Kate. She was on the joke with me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award at the ceremony in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and charitable work.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has disowned a campaign timetable currently circulating on social media, describing the document as unauthorised.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

n a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, the Council clarified that the purported timetable did not originate from the party’s campaign council or its campaign office.

The Council urged Nigerians, party members, leaders and other stakeholders to disregard the document and avoid treating it as an official schedule for the party’s campaign activities.

It also advised members and supporters to wait for an official announcement from the ADC-PCC regarding its campaign plans and timetable.

The statement read, “The purported timetable is unauthorised and should not be regarded as an official campaign schedule.

“Accordingly, all members and stakeholders are urged to disregard the document and await official communications from the ADC-PCC on campaign activities and schedules.”

Meanwhile, the ADC has warned President Bola Tinubu against any attempt to postpone the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, insisting that the Ebola outbreak must not be used as a justification for delaying the poll.

The Council also alleged that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and pressured to alter the election date.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC-PCC Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, urged Amupitan to resist any pressure to change the electoral timetable.

The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate for Abia State in the 2027 election, Doris Ogala, has reportedly been remanded at Ikoyi Prison in Lagos pending the scheduling of her bail hearing.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Ogala had recently expressed fears over alleged plans to keep her in detention, warning that such moves could threaten her freedom and undermine her political ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Reality TV star and comedian DeeOne confirmed her reported detention in a post shared on his X account on Wednesday.

According to DeeOne, Ogala will remain in custody until a date is fixed for her bail hearing in the ongoing legal dispute involving Pastor Chris Okafor.

“Doris Ogala has just been remanded in Ikoyi Prison till she can get a date for her bail hearing,” he wrote.

Ogala has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Pastor Okafor following her public criticism of the cleric after his pre-wedding photographs surfaced online.

The actress had claimed that she was romantically involved with the pastor and that he had promised to marry her before allegedly ending their relationship for another woman.

Meanwhile, Ogala recently criticised the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, over his comments on the performance of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

Suleman had spoken positively about Otti’s administration, suggesting that the governor could secure a second term without engaging in extensive campaigning.

In response, Ogala questioned the pastor’s conduct and challenged his assessment of developments in Abia State.

She also alleged that Suleman had not visited the state despite making public comments about its situation.